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Hitting up Niagara College’s clubs |
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Thursday, 15 April 2010 |
By STEPHANIE NIKITA
Staff Writer
For those unfamiliar with the on-campus clubs, and for those who are just irritated they couldn't find a club suiting their interest, have no fear. A step-by-step breakdown of how to form your own club next year is here.
STEP 1: Decide what you want and where it fits in the college's three
major club types. Social: if you really have no goal other than meeting
like-minded people and having a good time, for example, the Gamers'
Club; Cultural: if you are focusing on cultural beliefs or awareness,
for example, the PRIDE Club or the Christian Club, or Academic: if you
love your program so much you want to devote a group to it, for example,
the Construction Club.
STEP 2: Find at least 10 other people
interested in joining the club, as well as one faculty member to endorse
you, and of those 10 compatriots choose two to co-preside with you.
STEP
3: Go to the Student Administrative Council (SAC) office and fill out
the 11-page Club Application Form.
STEP 4: Receive your $50 start-up
fund from SAC and set up the time and place for your first official club
meeting.
For those still uncomfortable with the prospect of adding
the responsibility of maintaining a club to already jam-packed school
schedules, relax.
Kevin Dilts, the president of the Xodus Club and
vice-president of the Construction Club, says the impact on his academic
life has been nothing but positive.
"It keeps me busy and always at
the school, so then I can just do homework after and not be interrupted
like I would be at home."
The Construction Club is run by President
Evan Prouse. He says that club is more or less a culmination of the
Construction Engineering Technology program, the Civil Technology
program, the Renovation Technology program and the Construction
Techniques program.
Peter Vanscoy, the faculty adviser of the Gamers'
and Anime clubs, agrees that the clubs have a positive influence on
students' academic lives, saying that even a club unrelated to the
program can be "[a] part of the culture of our students." He says that
it's important to let them express that culture in a healthful and
social way, "to bring them into the learning environment."
Socialization
is the primary function of most clubs because the very nature of the
club environment encourages bringing together like-minded people who
share similar interests.
"The club is my social life," says Stephanie
McMullen, of the Gamers' Club.
Since each club is allotted a maximum
of roughly $300 per year from the Student Activity Fee included in
student tuition, it's as if you've already paid for the field trips,
hangout sessions and peer tutoring opportunities that can be generated
from being involved in the club environment.
Randi-Lee Bowslaugh is
the club co-ordinator in the SAC office and says she encourages students
to continue to form clubs.
So what are you waiting for? Pick up your
copy of the Club Application Form today.
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